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Post by Sonic Youth »

Militant group issues threat over mockery in Bruno

Caroline Davies
The Guardian


A Palestinian militant organisation that was ridiculed in the new Sacha Baron Cohen film has threatened to "respond in the way we find suitable" against the London-born satirist.

The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the armed wing of the Fatah movement, has condemned the film, Bruno, in which Cohen plays a gay Austrian fashionista, as "part of a conspiracy" against them. There was no comment from Cohen.

In the film, Cohen attempts to get himself kidnapped and arranges a meeting with Ayman Abu Aita, who, it is claimed, is a leader in the Martyrs Brigade, which is designated as a terrorist group in the US and European Union. While promoting the film, Cohen spoke of the clandestine meetings at shadowy locations and bodyguards required to set up the scene.

Cohen tells Abu Aita: "I want to be famous, and I want the best guys in the business to kidnap me," before adding: "Al-Qaida are so 2001". He then advises Abu Aita to shave off his moustache, "because your King Osama looks like a kind of dirty wizard or homeless Santa".

According to Abu Aita and the Martyrs Brigade, Abu Aita is not a member of the organisation, although he reportedly has had links in the past. He is a political representative for the Fatah party in Bethlehem and a board member of the Holy Land Trust, a non-governmental organisation promoting Palestinian rights with a commitment to non violence. He said it took a couple of phone calls for Cohen to locate him, and that the meeting was held in a private section of a popular restaurant.

While Abu Aita is pursuing legal action, the Martyrs Brigade issued a statement, through Jerusalem-based journalist Aaron Klein, of the WorldNetDaily website, saying: "We reserve the right to respond in the way we find suitable against this man. The movie was part of a conspiracy against the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.

"According to what we checked, there was no meeting about the real context of the film. This was a dirty use of our brother Ayman." The statement added Abu Aita was not a member of the Brigades. "And we don't accept that the name of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is part of the film".

Abu Aita has said he does not carry weapons, and the person who accompanied him to meetings with Cohen was not a bodyguard but the American manager of the Holy Land Trust.
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Post by Precious Doll »

Here's Todd McCarthy's rather mixed review of Bruno

Bruno

By TODD MCCARTHY

A Universal release of a Universal Pictures and Media Rights Capital presentation of a Four by Two Films production. Produced by Sacha Baron Cohen, Jay Roach, Dan Mazer, Monica Levinson. Executive producer, Anthony Hines. Co-producers, Jon Poll, Todd Schulman. Directed by Larry Charles. Screenplay, Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Mazer, Jeff Schaffer; story, Cohen, Peter Baynham, Hines, Mazer, based on characters created by Cohen.

Bruno - Sacha Baron Cohen
Lutz - Gustaf Hammarsten


There are 61 laughs, three dildos, one gyrating, talking penis, an anal bleaching and one very pissed-off politician in "Bruno," which should be enough to make any movie fly. But there is also a pronounced nasty streak to the innumerable provocations staged by the title character that curdles the laughs and wears out the flamboyant Austrian fashionista's welcome within the picture's brief 82-minute running time. Undeniably funny, outrageous and boundary-pushing, this further documentation of Sacha Baron Cohen's sheer nerve will draw an abundant share of "Borat" fans, gross-out seekers and the culturally curious, making for some potent B.O. figures, at least at first. But the content will turn off some (no doubt including some gays), as will the sourness and ill will triggered by the picture's cumulative misanthropy.
"Borat" scored its sensation not only due to its comedic audacity and Cohen's sangfroid, but because it convincingly presented ordinary people's reactions to the star's myriad incitements. Even though the format is similar here, with Bruno appearing in unlikely places to surprise the unsuspecting, the suspicion persists that most of the sequences were staged, with the majority of the participants in on the gag or even portrayed by actors.

Whatever the actual breakdown of "real" versus elaborately faked scenes under director Larry Charles' guidance, the result feels far more scripted and narratively driven than did "Borat," which also benefited from a more unique and cleverly conceived central character. Bruno is a striver, the latest incarnation of a country bumpkin drawn to Hollywood to become a star; the twist is that, unlike many of his predecessors, he's far from innocent and relentlessly tweaks the establishment's political correctness with a straight face -- the only straight thing about him.

Showing off his leaner and toned body in a series of often comically absurd costumes, the brown-and-blond-coiffed Bruno is introduced as the star of a Euro TV fashion show, "Funkyside." After crashing a runway presentation, however, Bruno is "schwartzlisted," which frees him to go to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming "the biggest Austrian superstar since Hitler."

The film and the character lay their sexual cards on the table in a dizzying montage of carnal permutations practiced by Bruno and his diminutive Asian boytoy, setting the tone for subsequent bawdiness that pushes the proverbial envelope while suggesting plenty got left in the Avid delete queue. Once in Hollywood, he attempts to launch a celebrity interview show, one on which he proclaims his cultural sensitivity by replacing the furniture with down-on-all-fours Mexicans and having initial guests Paula Abdul and La Toya Jackson sit on them. (In light of Michael Jackson's death, Universal has opted to remove the footage of La Toya Jackson, which includes a scene of Bruno trying to get the King of Pop's phone number.) One undoubtedly "real" moment has Bruno stalking Harrison Ford and being angrily told by the star to buzz off, in rather less decorous terms.

Pic takes a fateful turn toward the queasy, from which it never entirely recovers, with a noxious "Gotcha!" sequence in which Ron Paul, the libertarian-minded recent presidential aspirant, is played for a sap. Charitably willing to sit for an interview, the clearly clueless politico is led into a bedroom, upon which Bruno begins stripping as if in preparation for a tryst. When Paul realizes he's been set up, he storms out and furiously calls his captor a "queer" a couple of times, which will no doubt rankle some of his erstwhile supporters. But his epithets arguably pale in comparison with the venality of his predator's arachnidan motives.

Absent this interlude, the film might have blithely proceeded on its merry way. As it is, the humor -- and it keeps on coming -- carries with it an almost immediate sour aftertaste, as Bruno's intentions, and necessarily Cohen's along with them, appear far from honorable. As in "Borat," "Bruno's" pranks are designed to expose people's presumed latent prejudices. But while the previous film got away with this high-wire act for most people, "Bruno" is more erratic, partly since one is more aware of the game being rigged but also because Bruno himself comes off as someone the world scarcely needs another example of -- a self-absorbed narcissist for whom fame is the only goal. Cohen is critiquing this attitude, of course, but the film comes to share too much of this anything-for-effect mindset.

That said, there are numerous jaw-dropping sequences: Bruno's deliberately incendiary interviews with Israelis and radical Palestinians (real? Who knows?); his Madonna- and Angelina-inspired adoption of a black African baby and subsequent taunting appearance before an all-black TV studio audience; his attempt to undergo a "gay cure" through counseling and then via macho martial-arts training; a pretty amazing visit to a blue-collar swingers' party; and, finally, his goading a mangy, beer-swilling Arkansas crowd into an anti-gay frenzy at a cage wrestling extravaganza. Real? Once again, who knows?

Pic is of a noticeably higher technical quality than "Borat," which may not be an advantage in terms of credibility.

Camera (Deluxe color, HD), Anthony Hardwick, Wolfgang Held; editors, James Thomas, Scott M. Davids; music, Erran Baron Cohen; music supervisor, Richard Henderson; art directors, Denise Hudson, David Saenz de Maturana, Lisa Marinaccio; set decorators, Ute Bergk, Britt Woods; costume designer, Jason Alper; sound (Dolby Digital/DTS/SDDS), Scott Harber; supervising sound editor, Michael O'Farrell; re-recording mixers, Gary A. Rizzo, Brandon Proctor; visual effects supervisor, Scott Davids; visual effects, Level 256; makeup and hair, Thomas Kolarek; stunt coordinator, Alex Daniels; associate producers, Alper, Peter Baynham, Jonah Hill, Schaffer, Dale Stern; assistant director, Stern; casting, Allison Jones. Reviewed at Chinese 6, Los Angeles, June 22, 2009. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 82 MIN.


With: Paula Abdul, La Toya Jackson, Harrison Ford, Ron Paul, Bono, Chris Martin, Elton John, Slash, Snoop Dogg, Sting.
"I want cement covering every blade of grass in this nation! Don't we taxpayers have a voice anymore?" Peggy Gravel (Mink Stole) in John Waters' Desperate Living (1977)
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Post by Sonic Youth »

La Toya Jackson scene removed from `Bruno' movie

By CHRISTY LEMIRE, AP Movie Writer
Friday, June 26, 2009
(06-26) 13:56 PDT LOS ANGELES, (AP) --


The filmmakers behind "Bruno" have decided to delete a scene involving La Toya Jackson following her brother's death.

Universal Pictures, which is releasing the comedy, said the decision came "out of respect for the Jackson family."

The moment was first cut out of the movie's Los Angeles premiere Thursday night, which took place just hours after the Michael Jackson's death at age 50.

"Bruno," starring British comic Sacha Baron Cohen as a flamboyantly gay Austrian fashion correspondent, is set to come out July 10 and is the follow-up to his 2006 smash "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." La Toya Jackson had been featured in an absurd interview with Bruno in which she sits on a Mexican man's back and eats sushi off a second, naked Mexican man.

The moment is classic Baron Cohen, the kind in which he places some unsuspecting person in a weirdly deadpan situation and waits for the humiliation — and the humor — to follow. He also tries to interview Paula Abdul in this setting but she quickly feels uncomfortable and leaves. (The joke's on the audience, too, because we don't know which scenes are real and spontaneous and which feature players who are in on the gag.)

Jackson arrives at a contemporary L.A. home under the guise of being interviewed by Bruno, a character Baron Cohen introduced alongside Borat on his sketch comedy program "Da Ali G Show." Because there's no furniture in the house, Bruno asks Jackson to sit on the back of a Mexican laborer, who's on his hands and knees functioning as a chair. Another man serves as a table with pieces of sushi spread across his naked body.

Jackson hangs out awhile and politely banters with Bruno, who asks whether she will introduce him to her brother, Michael. She tries to deflect his persistent requests but relents when he asks to see her cell phone — then he finds what is supposedly Michael Jackson's number and reads it to his assistant in German.
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Abdul gets fooled by Baron Cohen
BBC News


American Idol judge Paula Abdul has admitted she was fooled by Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy character Bruno, as part of his forthcoming movie.

Appearing on US radio's Johnjay and Rich Show, the star said she was told she had won an award in Germany and was interviewed by Baron Cohen's alter ego. Abdul said she had no idea it had been a set up until weeks later.

"At two in the morning, I woke up in a sweat and I went: 'Oh my God' And I'm dying, because you don't expect it."

'Abusive stuff'

Recalling the incident, she said: "I'm greeted by this futuristic dude with a mohawk - and he's flaming. I walk in and there was no furniture except a chair. And this guy Bruno introduces himself. He snaps his fingers and says, 'Gardeners'. And these two Mexican guys come in, and they drop down to all fours. I see him paying them like 10 bucks."

The singer said things turned "uncomfortable" when Baron Cohen kicked one of the Mexicans.

"I said, 'Get me out of here. This is crazy. This is not funny, this is discrimination. This is abusive stuff going on here'."

Early reviews of the film, based on Baron Cohen's gay fashion TV reporter character, have been largely positive. Like Baron Cohen's hit film Borat, Bruno takes the style of a faux documentary, with the comedian putting unsuspecting interviewees through a string of awkward situations. Those caught out this time are rumoured to include Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ben Affleck.
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Post by flipp525 »

This looks g-d fucking hilarious!

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Post by Zahveed »

--Sonic Youth wrote:Yeah, my sense is that general audiences are clamoring for Herbert Hoover jokes.

I know I am!




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Post by Sonic Youth »

Yeah, my sense is that general audiences are clamoring for Herbert Hoover jokes.
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Post by Greg »

--Sonic Youth wrote:A spokeswoman for Paul confirmed that the episode took place but declined to provide details. "We don't want it to distract from his message," said press secretary Rachel Mills. "Now is the time when people need to be listening to him on economic issues."

Considering that Paul's basic economic message is, "Herbert Hoover was too much of a socialist," Bruno couyld have got more laughs by simply asking Paul about his economic views than by trying to seduce him.




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Post by Sonic Youth »

Anyone dumb enough to get punked by SBC to this extent is amply deserving.
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Post by anonymous1980 »

There are far more deserving targets than Ron Paul, IMO.
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Post by Penelope »

I'm sure you've heard the first cut has been rated NC-17.
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Post by Zahveed »

I stopped reading after the spoiler alert.

Here's to Bruno being more insane than Borat.
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Post by Sonic Youth »

Libertarians Gone Wild
Ron Paul's insane cameo in the upcoming Bruno movie.
By Christopher Beam
Slate.com


Presidential candidates will do almost anything for publicity. But Ron Paul's appearance in Sacha Baron Cohen's upcoming Bruno movie suggests he draws the line at making sex tapes with gay Austrian TV hosts.

In a five-minute scene, comedian Cohen tries—and fails—to seduce the Texas congressman and former Republican presidential candidate in a Washington hotel room. A spokeswoman for Paul confirmed the appearance but declined to discuss details, which were provided by two people who attended a test screening last week.

The film, slated for release in July, is the follow-up to 2006's Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, about a Kazakh news reporter's quest to find a wife. Bruno follows a similar arc: After the flamboyant TV host's show in Austria gets canceled, he heads to the United States to try to resurrect his career.

The scene with Paul, filmed in early 2008, occurs about halfway through the movie, after Bruno gets the idea that you have to make a sex tape to become famous. (Stop reading here if you want to see the movie unspoiled.)

Cut to a nondescript hotel suite where Bruno sits across from Ron Paul. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, a light blows out on the set. Bruno apologizes for the technical difficulties and suggests that he and Paul wait in the other room while the crew fixes the light.

The other room, it turns out, is a bedroom. The lighting is low, and the film is now grainy—not unlike a sex tape—as it cuts to a hidden spy camera. There's a spread of Champagne and strawberries and caviar on a table.

Bruno tells Paul to make himself comfortable. Paul sits down on the bed. Bruno turns on some music and starts dancing. Paul is visibly uneasy but doesn't say anything at first. He picks up a newspaper and pretends to read it. "You can tell at each weird gay detail, he [chalks] it up to, This guy is European," says one of the attendees.

Finally, Paul asks what's going on. "Don't worry about it, Dr. Paul," says Bruno, who then unbuckles his belt and drops his pants. At that point, Paul snaps up and storms out of the room.

As Paul is walking away, you can hear him say, several times, something like, "This guy is a queer!" "The word queer comes out of his mouth three or four times," says an attendee.

A spokeswoman for Paul confirmed that the episode took place but declined to provide details. "We don't want it to distract from his message," said press secretary Rachel Mills. "Now is the time when people need to be listening to him on economic issues."

Mills, who was present at the taping, did elaborate on the "queer" line. "I heard him say 'weird,' " she wrote in an e-mail. "In any case, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Queer as Folk … it's not exactly a shocking term if that's what he did say."

Mills also noted that Cohen's people were "very deceptive in their tactics." At the time, she thought they were "legitimate," but now confesses to some concern. "I'm familiar with his work, so you can imagine how I feel about it," she said.

The rest of the movie is a mix of interviews and stunts targeting celebrities and conservatives of various stripes. At one point, Bruno enrolls in a homosexual reprogramming course with evangelical Christians and spends the whole time hitting on the trainers. He sits down with a leader of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, who tells Bruno to leave after Bruno tells him "your King Osama" looks like a "dirty wizard." During an interview with Paula Abdul, Bruno makes immigrant day laborers get down on their hands and knees and serve as furniture. And in the movie's much-hyped set piece, he stages a cage fight in Arkansas where, to the audience's surprise, he proceeds to make out passionately with another man.

Jesse Benton, senior vice president of Campaign for Liberty and former campaign spokesman for Paul, said Paul was not familiar with Cohen's HBO program, Da Ali G Show. "If it's not on hard-core financial news, he doesn't follow it," Benton said. But, he added, "It sounds like it's going to be pretty funny."
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